Belize Honeymoon - Fashion Inspiration

I'd mentioned that I spent the long weekend down in Orange County for a best friend's wedding, and it was incredible!  The wedding was absolutely gorgeous - from the venue to the flowers, to all the little details - it was like being in a real live Pinterest page - no joke.  My beautiful friend, Lindsay, was absolutely stunning - gorgeous, and glowing and happy.

Of course, everyone at the wedding has had to return to real life, while Lindsay and her new HUSBAND (so weird and awesome to say) are on their honeymoon in Belize. I've been daydreaming about a hot tropical vacation, and with Belize on the brain, I put together a wishlist for what I'd pack on a romantic trip down there...

I'm not known for packing light (I had a carry on AND a checked bag for 3 nights in southern California for goodness sake) but I'd do my best to limit myself to pieces that could easily transition from day to night... I'd definitely go after bright colors, and LIGHT fabrics, because it is hot and humid down there...

Here's my packing check-list...

Belize by beckyc1923 featuring Steve Madden

Matthew Williamson floral dress / 120% Lino floral dress / Miss Selfridge chiffon dress / Accessorize sun dress / Jane Norman summer dress, $78 / Pull&Bear red dress, $62 / Paprika floral dress, $7.79 / Cutie summer top / One piece swimsuit / Halter top / Vix bikini / Wal G jumpsuits romper, $51 / Forever 21 romper / Charlotte Russe fringe bathing suit / Steve Madden shoes / Nine West flat sandals / MICHAEL Michael Kors tote bag / Irene Neuwirth gold jewelry / Luis Morais gold bracelet / IaM by Ileana Makri sterling silver charm / Michael Kors jewelry / Stella & Dot cuff bracelet / Blu Bijoux gold jewelry

White swimwear - you're a bride!!  And white makes you look oh so tan!  A sexy one-piece and a fringed bikini are must haves.

I'm also loving the versatility of the romper - light and easy to throw on for the beach, or for dinner with gold cuffs and cute gold sandals.  If you're feeling a bit more dressy, a pretty floaty maxi is just the thing, but it's Belize - one pair of wedges MIGHT make an appearance for a dressy night out.  With everyone else in flip-flops, it's hard to muster up the energy or desire to squeeze heels on.

A big bright tote is perfect for throwing everything into before hopping on a boat, or heading to the pool, and a selection of bright floral sundresses are essential for any beach vacation...

Cabo Must Have's

In less than 72 hours, I'll be laying in my beach chair, sipping an icy margarita, and listening to the waves crash on the beach in Cabo.

A few girlfriends and myself booked a quick trip to Cabo for a quick escape from city life.  I plan to come back very tan, and very relaxed, but today and tomorrow is all about packing my bags for our trip south of the border. When I think mexico, I think beachy hair, bikinis, and bright colors, and this list covers my essentials for this little getaway...

Cabo by beckyc1923 featuring a fuchsia dress

Sass & Bide multicolor dress, $380 / Victoria's Secret victoria secret / Colorful maxi dress / Fuchsia dress / Victoria's Secret victoria secret / Jimmy Choo strap high heels / Sigerson Morrison heel wedge / Nine West heels / Sam & Libby shoes / Michael Kors tote bag / BaubleBar orange bib necklace / H&M plastic bracelet, $4.51 / Rachel Zoe

Possibly the most essential item to pack on a tropical vacation is your swimsuit.  I'll be spending about 70% of my day in one, and I'm all about the bandeau style bikini.  It's especially great for the first few days to avoid tan-lines from a triangle top.  I also could not leave without a big floppy hat - the sun is STRONG and we want to avoid wrinkles at all costs.

I love everything about a maxi dress, and I plan on bringing a few - they are so pretty blowing in the breeze, and they are equally comfy as they are feminine.  They are usually not super tight around the mid-section which means, bring on the tacos!  I won't be holding back!  I'm all about the aztec prints out in stores right now, and these are so perfect for a trip to Baja.  I love the blouse-y short number almost as much as I love the black white and yellow bandage dress!

Comfy footwear is important too - especially with cobblestone pathways, and sand everywhere. I'll most likely spend most of my time in a comfy pair of gladiators, but it's nice to have a few sassy options for a night out on the town - bright striped espadrilles, brown laser cut wedges, and these yellow Jimmy Choo's are on my dream wish list for sure.  How amazing are they???

Accessories make an outfit, so I plan on packing a few bold statement necklaces and fun bracelets, and I wouldn't dare go on a beach vacation without a big sturdy tote to drag all my magazines, and sunscreen to the pool.

Just making this list made me sooo excited!  Off to pack!

xo

Weekend Getaway

I'm back after a much needed break!  To celebrate Kris' 30th, we escaped to Malibu, to soak up some sun, surf, and unplug - literally - Malibu gets absolutely no cell reception!

We left really early the morning after Thanksgiving, and Kris drove while I slept.  I woke up to perhaps one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen.  You should also know that this photo is non-edited.  It was absolutely breathtaking.

We got to the beach by 10am, and it looked like this.  So much for 80 degrees and sunny, right??

Kris headed out into the water, while I bundled up.  I was less than amused here, but this trip was all about him, so I pulled up the hood, and sucked it up.

A few freezing cold hours later, we dusted off the sand, and made our way up the road, to the house we rented in the Malibu mountains.  After a few minutes of driving, the fog disappeared and I realized that the sun was hiding maybe a quarter of a mile away from the beach!  The injustice of it all!!

After showering off, we enjoyed the sunset from the backyard, sipping wine, and nibbling on cheese until it was dark out.  I was happy to be able to wear my cute sundress after the sun went down, and as you can see, the view of the ocean from the backyard was stunning.

The next morning was sunny and hot, and after a solid 12 hours of sleep, we were all very happy campers.  After a quick hike on the trails surrounding the house, we headed back to the beach where I was bound and determined to get a tan.

Mission accomplished.  By the time Kris and his buddy got out of the water, I was quite warm and very hungry, so we headed into town.  We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the shops, and discovered a brewery where several hours slipped by more quickly than I'd like to admit.

Another pretty sunset later and I was hooked - we must find a way to move down there.

The next morning, we were sad to leave, but the trip wasn't over.  We drove up the coast to Santa Barbara - my old stomping grounds.  It is (in my opinion) one of the best kept secrets in California.  The town is old and beautiful, located right on the beach, and set against a dramatic lush mountain back-drop.

We stayed in an adorable hotel, that was covered in vines and pretty flowers.  Our room had a big deck overlooking the beach, and it was absolutely perfect.

That night we got all gussied up, and headed to a fancy dinner to celebrate Kris' birthday.  In my opinion, it isn't a birthday until you blow out a few candles!

The first day back at work was a bit rough, but that's the sign of a fabulous long weekend!

I left my heart in Cabo

Our trip to Cabo was an amazing escape for a week, and I am so sad it's over!

The trip started out stressful after a long week at work.  To preface this, I'll admit - I am not the worlds greatest packer (on one occasion, I forgot to pack any tops - plenty of skirts, pants, and shorts, but not a single shirt)  Anyways, I ended up rushing out of the office, and realized once I got home that I'd left my packing list on my desk at work.  Dah!

Luckily, I had my swimsuits, and magazines, so I knew I'd be ok....

The next morning, we were up bright and early to catch our flight, and after breezing through security, we had a leisurely breakfast, and I stocked up on a few more essentials for our flight (candy for Kris, and a coffee the size of my head for me).

After 3 hours, a margarita, and two episodes of Dexter later, we arrived in hot and humid Cabo.  All the bags and surf boards arrived without a hitch, and after passing through customs, we rented a car.  Kris strapped his boards to the top, and I supervised in the late afternoon sunshine.  In just 10 minutes in the humidity, my hair curled right up - and for the first time in the history of my hair, humidity actually made it BETTER...

The trip was off to a great start!

The drive to our hotel was really beautiful.  There were tons of cactus everywhere, and the mountains looked really dramatic in the late afternoon sunlight.

The closer we got to the coast, the darker the sky became, which made for a really beautiful sunset... unfortunately there are no pics of the actual sunset...

We got to the hotel around dark, and I was amazed at the size of our villa!  It was bigger than our apartment!!  I decided immediately that we were never leaving.

From the humongous bed, to the deep soaking tub, and the kitchen with wrap around granite counter-tops, I was sold.  I loved all the lanterns with the intricate detailing, and warm glow.

We had a late dinner, and a few margaritas later, fell into bed for one of the best sleeps of my life.

The next morning we woke up to perfectly blue skies, and had breakfast on our balcony overlooking the pool and the ocean beyond.  I'm pretty sure I could do this every day and never get tired of it...

Back at home, we had rented an incredible lens for our DSLR camera - it had a 450 zoom lens, which meant that from the comfort of my lounge chair, I could take really clear photos of Kris as he surfed breaks far out from the beach.  

Another highlight for me??  Our hotel had amazing cabanas on the beach for private massages, and with the crashing waves as the soundtrack, I became convinced that I would never go back home.  I would have to find an internet connection to email my boss that I wanted the contents of my office packed up and shipped off ASAP.  Kris just kept laughing at me, but I had a solid plan in place.

The rest of the vacation was spent doing a lot of this...

Drinking a lot of these...

And eating A LOT of these...

Unfortunately, despite my very convincing arguments that we could become professional margarita tasters in Mexico, Kris and I flew back home, and in a matter of minutes, the sky went from this...

To this... 

Back to the foggy city by the bay... Mark Twain said... "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco".  Couldn't have said it better myself...

Last Minute Splurge

In less than 24 hours, we will be on a plane, bound for Cabo, and of course I couldn't help one last beach bunny splurge.

After work last night, I headed to Union Street in the Marina, to meet my soulmate... my bikini soulmate that is.  She is the color of orange sherbet, and has an amazing fringed top.  I am 99% sure I "pinned" this bikini on Pinterest at the start of summer, and now it's mine... all mine!!

I am OFFICIALLY ready for vacation now!!

Vacation Countdown

My honey and I booked a last minute trip to Cabo, and the countdown is on!  We leave next weekend, and I could not be more excited for the sand in my toes, and margarita in my hand.  Now that Virgin America offers direct flights to Cabo, we will leave in the morning, and be there three hours later! What could be easier!

I'm starting to put together a packing list, and pretty much everything I want to bring has the colors of the sunset, the colors of the sea, or a hip bohemian vibe to it.

Cabo I by beckyc1923 featuring a tie dye dress

Willow dress, $520 / Melissa Odabash gold dress / Wallis cream shift dress / Beach maxi dress / Mango tie dye dress, $31 / Dolce&Gabbana triangle bikini / Melissa Odabash bandeau swimwear / Mikoh Swimwear string swimwear / Giuseppe Zanotti toe loop sandals / Sam Edelman ankle wrap sandals / BP. summer flat sandals / Irene Neuwirth tear drop earrings / Long chain necklace / DANNIJO brass jewelry / Danielle Stevens Jewelry star jewelry / Panacea teardrop earrings / Into the Sun - Coastal Beach Cottage- Seagull Over Aqua, Turquoise...

I went on Polyvore for some inspiration, and have become absolutely fixated on the white Mikoh St. Thomas Bikini.  The strings on the bandeau top are so sexy, but this bathing suit is full coverage (on the top at least).  I love that any of these dresses could take you from the pool to dinner, and that the light fabrics will pack up into a carry-on.

A few months ago, I did a guest post  for my blog buddy, Kendall, of Lillies Lattes and Lace, and went back for more beachy inspiration.  I cannot forget my floppy hat, and an assortment of fun sunglasses!!

Oh can I be there already???

Girl's Weekend!

This weekend was so fun... so fabulous... and now I am in some serious recovery!  Between the food, the cocktails, and the sunshine, I don't know how people in Southern California get any work done!

We flew down early Thursday morning, and checked into The Standard around noon - perfect timing for a lunch poolside and our first cocktail!  If you've never been to this hotel, you really must - not that it's fancy, but it kind of feels like you stepped back in time, and walked into the 1960's.  The lobby is awesome - shag carpet, tall cacti, orbital swings, and let's not forget the girl in a glass fishbowl behind the reception desk - naked, and browsing through magazines.  No I am not kidding.  It's one part jarring, one thousand parts awesome.  (Unfortunately in the below picture, the light from behind her is so bright, you can hardly see her!

Our first night we ate dinner at an amazing restaurant called Firefly - it is perhaps one of the most romantic restaurants I've ever been too - it's mainly outdoors under a canopy, and nearly 100% candlelit.  Candles lining the fireplaces, in little lanterns over the tables and built into the walls.  It feels like you stepped into a little fairy land.  And the food?? Ridiculously good.  If you are in West Hollywood, make the drive over the hill to Studio City and try this place!

This is what Firefly really looks like...


This is what Firefly looks like with the flash on... oopsy!!

After dinner we headed back to our hotel to try out the club there.  Turns out that Thursdays at The Standard are "Simon Says" parties... aka Tranny Night.  Again... amazing!  We danced until the wee hours with some of the most gorgeous gay men, and their tranny entouages.

The next morning, none of us were feeling well, so we put on our bikinis, and layed by the pool, keeping the Cabana boys busy getting us food and drinks for hours.  My kind of day!  I read my book, listened to music, and ate a lot of sweet potato fries :-)

After about three thousand pounds of fried food, and a catnap, we were feeling refreshed and ready for dinner. We went to Katana - a swanky sushi restaurant on Sunset.  I don't know if this place attracts straight male models, but we were nearly mute the entire meal watching the most handsome (and straight) men in the world come through with their lady friends.

After dinner, we walked across the street to the Mondrion Hotel's Sky Bar - another super fun spot.  They have a big pool lined with sofas and it really is so beautiful.  

Unfortunately, something happened to their license for amplified music, so it was eerily quiet inside - not the dance party we were expecting it to be.  Not to worry - some of our friends from SF were also in LA, so they came and met up with us, made us laugh, and made us forget that there was zero music.

On Saturday, we learned that The Standard throws some pretty incredible pool parties each weekend, so the next day was spent people watching poolside.  The DJ set up around noon, and the pool became quite a "scene" - lots of thongs, lots of spray tans, and lots of gay guys in their speedos.  In short, it was pretty much the opposite of my life in SF... except for the gays, but they are normally clothed here :-)

Our last night we went to Katsuya in Hollywood which was by far the BEST sushi I have ever had.  We headed to the W afterwards, and ended up on the rooftop club, Drai's.  Had I known what an awesome place this is, we would have been there all three nights.  It was HUGE, filled with glowing lanterns, fluffy cabana beds, and had incredible views of LA.  What surprised me the most was how kind everyone was in LA - I had thought everyone would be a snobby aspiring model, but we met some of the friendliest, most genuinely nice people.

Anyway, it was a whirlwind weekend that has left me totally and utterly exhausted - I have sworn off alcoholic drinks for the foreseeable future, and I really need to get back on the work-out wagon, BUT it was such a fun summer escape, and I'm already dreaming of our next one!

Girls Trip: LA Weekend

I am SOOO excited...  I am headed off to La-la Land just after the Fourth of July with some girl friends for a quick getaway, and it could not come sooner!  We are all in need of a little sunshine, girl time, and some summery cocktails by the pool.

We are staying at The Sandard, West Hollywood, and for any fellow Sex and the City lovers, that's the hotel the ladies stayed at during their LA trip.  It's totally 60's mod, with a great pool, and it's just steps from all the hottest restaurants and bars on the strip.  CAN. NOT. WAIT.


For anyone who has ever been to LA (or So-Cal for that matter) you know that it's a total scene, and it's all about what you are wearing 24/7, so I'm using this little trip as an excuse to go shopping... I have a few very clear images in my mind of what I'm looking for... we'll see if I can make these "wants" become a reality...

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Daytime

La La Land I by beckyc1923 featuring a lip stick

Asymmetrical dress
Sam Edelman cork wedge sandals, $153
Feather jewelry, $10
Lanvin wide belt, $595
TOMS gold sunglasses, $139
Lip stick, $32

This high-low dress is eerily similar to one of my favorite looks from Pinterest (remember #10 from this post a few weeks back?)  This outfit is easy-breezy, while still being totally on trend... perfect for a bit of shopping, lunching at The Ivy, Star Spotting, and throwing over my swimsuit after a bit of sun-bathing by the pool.  Must find....

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Dinner

La La Land II by beckyc1923 featuring a coral lipstick

Wallis lace top, $49
Denim skirt, £12
Giuseppe Zanotti platform shoes, $850
Oasis clutch handbag, $55
Amrita Singh 18k jewelry, $300
LK Designs 18k jewelry, €97
Giorgio Armani coral lipstick, $30
Essie nail polish, $8

This flirty little circle skirt will still be flattering after a big dinner, while the high necked blouse keeps it from being over the top at a restaurant.  It's LA - not SF - so edgier is always better.  I love the studded clutch next to the soft skirt.  I'm imagining something like this for dinner at Katana or FireFly...

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Dancing

La La Land III by beckyc1923 featuring aventurine jewelry

Bodycon dress, $157
Promise Shoes high heel pumps, $55
J Crew clutch handbag, $80
Aventurine jewelry
Miso set of bangle, £10
Bare Escentuals lip gloss, $18
Urban Decay black eye makeup, £12

I am thinking something white at night to compliment my new LA tan... this dress is sexy without being too much.  I love the deep-v, and the flattering pleats.  That belt is very mod itself, and a few sassy accessories like the leopard clutch and coral drop earrings keep the focus on the dress.  I'll be wearing this at the top of Skybar, for a little dancing and cocktail sipping under the stars.

Weekend in Napa

Happy Monday and what a wonderful weekend it was!  The Bay Area was experiencing a heat wave, and I was loving every second of it!

Making the most of the sunny warm weather, I headed up to Napa with some co-workers for what we like to refer to as an "offsite".  To clients this reads as, we-are-not-checking-email-so-if-you-have-any-questions-hold-them-till-Monday.  

We arrived at the fabulous Bardessono Resort in Yountville, and settled in.  This picture does not even do this place justice - this eco (and dog) friendly resort is hands down the nicest five star hotel I've ever seen - each room has a bathroom the size of my living room, outdoor showers and bathtubs in your private garden, a lovely patio for early morning coffee... need I go on?  The rooms themselves are airy and bright, with lofted ceilings, fireplaces, and gourmet treats to snack on.  Don't even get me started on the fancy toilets, swanky beauty products, and "smart technology" (the rooms literally know when you're not there and shut lights off, air off, etc to stay green).  Dang!

Anyways... a quick cocktail by the pond and we were off to the Kuleto Winery and Estate for some wine tasting. 

Unlike most popular wineries up in Napa, this one is off the beaten path (nearly 20 minutes off the beaten path to be exact), and it was well worth the drive on the very narrow winding road to the top.  Pat Kuleto (owner of famous SF restaurants Boulevard, Farallon, Jardiniere, Epic Roasthouse, and WaterBar to name a few) started this winery in 1992, but it feels like its been there forever.  It felt like I had driven an hour out of San Francisco, and ended up in Tuscany - magical!

The grounds were absolutely stunning - rolling hills of wildflowers, huge grassy areas for lounging and picnicking, and even a lake with a boat in it (what villa is complete without a lake?!)  The views were incredible, and most importantly, the wine was fabulous.  I'll definitely be going back :-)

Take a look at the tasting area - lovely long tables under a raw wood arbor - in the summer its fully shaded from the vines that take over (can't you just imagine a small romantic wedding here??)

We didn't go into the barrel room, but they do tastings in there on cold rainy days.

You can kind of see the small man made pond down below - what you can't see so well is the amazing antique wooden Chris Craft wooden boat in it.

Just look at those views!! In the distance, there is a larger lake - perfect for boating and fishing - and beyond that is the bustling valley (which we returned to all too soon)

That night, we dressed up and headed to dinner at a new restaurant that recently opened in Yountville - Redwood, the sister restaurant to Red was amazing - I WISH I had a picture of the food we ordered... we were tipsy and really hungry, so I think our eyes were bigger than our stomochs.  Luckily, that meant left-overs (which I love).

We ended the night with drinks on the porch at Bottega, Michael Chiarello's restaurant, where he works nightly.  Proof?  He came over to check on us - twice.  We are kind of bff's now :-)

The next morning, I woke up early to make the most of my Napa stay.  I sauntered over to Bouchon - Thomas Keller's bakery - where the line was already out the door by 8am.  I got there just in the nick of time - there was maybe 6 people in front of me when I got in line, but when I left 15 minutes later, the line was about forty people deep - down the block.

Take a look at these pictures and you can see why - the assortment of fresh pasteries, sandwiches, cookies, and little goodies is mind boggling.  I somehow managed to spend $50 on just myself.  Of course I had to get a few treats to bring back to Kris :-)

Can we also make note of the Kate Gosslin lookalike in front of me?? That hair!!  I could not stop staring!




After breakfast, and a delicious latte in the early morning sunshine, I headed to the spa for a massage - it was SOO good.  I was sore for the rest of the weekend - just the way I like it :-)

After my massage was a bike ride through the surrounding vineyards (no I can't even make this stuff up) - it was hot and sunny, and I got to test out the resort's new electic bike - SO COOL!  The motor kicks in on the hills, making for a super easy ride.  I could have kept at it all day!

Before hitting the road to get back to the city for my dad's birthday celebration, I took to the cabanas at the pool, had a little lunch, and soaked up as much sun as I could.

Such a fabulous mini get-away.  I left feeling relaxed, happy, and very well fed :-)

Hope you all had a great weekend too!!